Monthly Archives: March 2023

Legislative salary in other Western states

Legislative salary in other Western states This is not a published column but is based on the column I wrote in March 2023 about legislative salaries. I found a list of the contact information for legislative staff in all the … Continue reading

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Governing the school boards

Years ago, as a young reporter in Taos, I was assigned to interview candidates for the local school board. This was considered a booby prize for the new kid in the newsroom. Most candidates had no major policy positions and … Continue reading

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Educator benefits move in legislature

New Mexico needs more teachers. And we want them to stay around so our schools can benefit as their experience increases. This year we’re finding at least one new way to pay them more. One bill has school districts paying … Continue reading

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Real work for inmates leaving prison

If we’re going to solve the problem of crime, somebody has to offer alternatives so felons have a chance to do something better with their lives. While the legislature is debating issues like pretrial detention and sentencing, promising developments are … Continue reading

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Who pays for future medical care

New Mexico’s medical malpractice crisis has, deservedly, caught the public’s attention. We’re seeing the numbers on our increasing shortage of physicians as doctors leave for places where it’s easier to make a good living. Why does malpractice insurance cost doctors … Continue reading

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Malpractice insurance is driving doctors away

The first time I was lobbied, it was by a doctor, while I was in his office as a patient. It was about medical malpractice. He said New Mexico was having a crisis because the cost was unacceptable. He knew … Continue reading

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